On Tuesday, Congressman Marc Molinaro disclosed that over $5 million federal funding will go to Airports in Broome and Chenango Counties, including the Greater Binghamton Airport, Tri-Cities Airport and Lt. Warren E. Eaton Airport in Norwich.  Lt. Warren E. Eaton Airport will receive  $161,527 for tree removal on-off airport property. (Photo by Dustin Genter of 5th Dimension Photography)

NORWICH – On Tuesday, Congressman Marc Molinaro disclosed that over $5 million federal funding will go to Airports in Broome and Chenango County, including the Greater Binghamton Airport, Tri-Cities Airport and Lt. Warren E. Eaton Airport in Norwich.

  Lt. Warren E. Eaton Airport will receive $161,527 for tree removal on or near airport property.

 “ ‘On-Off Airport’ refers to obstructions, in this case trees, that may be on or off airport property which are or could in the near future create a hazard when aircraft are flying in or out of the airport," said Shane Butler, director of the  Chenango County Planning Department 

 Butler explained they maintain air rights, otherwise known as easements in some areas which are off of the airport property.  In these cases, additional agreements have to be in place. 

 "Our Airport Engineers, C&S Companies, will be conducting a study to identify which trees within our airspace will soon create a hazard," said Butler.

He said in a couple of years they will   apply for an environmental assessment to prepare for an additional two years to then remove those trees.